Newsletter of the Big Bend Astronomical Society, Inc. November, 1998 Jim Walker, Editor

Dr. Grant Hill, with the HET at McDonald Observatory, was unable to give his presentation scheduled for our November meeting because of an unexpected work assignment.   Dr. Hill will be with us in January.

Bernie Zelazny, BBAS Vice President and Web Master, gave a presentation on the BBAS Web Site demonstrating many of its features.  An enormous amount of information - literally an astronomical amount - is available through links on our web site:

Bernie showed us pictures of the earth taken from shuttle missions, a sample of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and links offering information on comets, meteor showers, and many other topics.  Bill Brooks of Brooks Data has donated the site to the BBAS.

The Newsletter, among many other things, is now available online.  If you have Internet access, Bernie will let you know when the Newsletter is available.  You can then read it online and print anything you wish, including our monthly star chart.  Beginning this month, Bernie will archive back issues of the Newsletter, which you can also read online.

Since the Newsletter has been on line, several members have indicated they no longer wish to receive a paper copy, thereby saving postage, printing costs, and paper - all of which represent substantial expenses. Please let Bernie or Jim Walker know if you are willing to forego your paper copy.
 

Jim Walker delivered the following report prepared by Treasurer Betty Grimm for presentation in her absence: Bank balance 09/30/98       $2,059.12 September Activity  Receipts                                     74.00 Disbursements                      1,425.00 Balance 10/31/98                     708.12 Less Newman Fund                 110.00 Less Lighting Fund                    100.00 Working balance 10/31/98       498.12

First National Bank in Alpine Savings Account Opened 09/95/98 09/25/98 Deposit                   1,200.00 09/30/98 Interest Earned               .46 Balance 10/31/98                  1,200.46

Murray Newman Fund CD  2,904.57

Upward Bound Program.
Bill Baker reported that Sul Ross State University  is applying for a federal grant to implement an Upward Bound Program designed to provide educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.  In view of our commitment to education, Bill suggested that it would be appropriate for the BBAS to have such participants as guests at our meetings and star parties, and perhaps provide them with speakers offering an introduction to astronomy.  There was a consensus that we should take advantage of this opportunity to be of service.

Working Balance in Treasury.
Fran Sage commented on the substantial working balance in our treasury. She suggested that we develop some long-range plans for using these funds rather than merely accumulating money for its own sake.  Bill Baker pointed out that we will have some large expenses after
the first of the year, particularly our liability insurance.  Bill explained that the board will present a budget to the Society for consideration in the January meeting.  Jim Walker noted that some of our present funds are in effect windfalls from star parties that some of us have conducted for tour groups, which are not a dependable source of revenue.

The Election Committee (Hal Flanders, Chair, Yvonne Newman, and Barbara Walker) presented the following slate of nominees in the September meeting:  President, Bill Baker; Vice President, Bernie Zelazny; Secretary, Jim Walker; Treasurer, Betty Grimm; and Board Members at Large, Terry Eakens and W. Parks Goodwin.

Nominations from the floor were solicited in the September and October meetings, but there  were none. Nominations were closed in the October meeting.  Ballots were then mailed to voting members and were to be returned by mail to the chair of the Election Committee, or brought to the November meeting, where Hal Flanders and Barbara Walker tallied the votes.  The validating signatures were checked against a roster of the Society and the return envelopes were opened in such a way as to preserve the anonymity of the voters as the bylaws prescribe, even though there were no contested offices or board positions.  There were 19 ballots cast.  Eighteen people voted for all nominees on the slate; one person voted for all but one
nominee.  Thus, the people listed above are our officers and board members at large for 1999.

Bernie Zelazny, BBAS Vice President and Webmaster, continues maintaining and improving our Society web site. Bill Brooks of Brooks Data has donated the site.
Besides the current Newsletter, there are numerous links to other web sites with astronomical content.

As of September, 1998 all Newsletters and Sky Watch web pages are being archived. Click on the Archive Directory links on either the current Newsletter web page (at the bottom) or Sky Watch web page (above the current star chart) to go to the appropriate Archive Directory.

The Newsletter, and many other things, is now available online.  If you have Internet access, Bernie will let you know when the Newsletter is available.  You can then read it online.  You can also follow any of the many links to other web sites of astronomical interest.

PLEASE LET BERNIE ZELAZNY OR JIM WALKER KNOW if you no longer wish to receive a paper copy of the Newsletter.  Several members have already done so, saving our society postage, printing costs, and paper - none of which are trivial expenses.   However, if you want to continue receiving a paper copy, that's OK too.  None of us members of the cyber elite will consider you a second-class citizen!
 
 

The room in the ACR Building has a center aisle, which we think makes it a little more comfortable than the room in Lawrence Hall where we have been meeting most recently.

If you're new to the area and don't know where the ACR building is located on the Sul Ross State University campus, you can click here to go to an SRSU campus map or here to see a photo of the ACR building.

Please call or e-mail Jim Walker at 364-2467, or Bernie Zelazny at 837-1717 if you need further information.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE from Tuesday, as in the October Newsletter, to Monday.  After further divination with tea leaves, MONDAY now looks better than Tuesday.  (See the excellent article on the Leonids in the November Sky & Telescope.)

As Bill Baker emphasized at our August meeting and Perseid watch, there is a good chance of having a Leonid meteor storm this year (or possibly next).

Plan on meeting at the Walker's at 7:00 PM on Monday for a Potluck Supper.  We'll watch as long as anyone wishes, even till dawn.  NOTE THAT this is a MONDAY evening.